The worst winter storm to hit east, central and southern China in five decades has snarled transportation, paralyzed cities and caused dozens of deaths.
While millions are shivering through power cuts and water shortages and millions more are stranded on roads, at railway stations and at airports. But there are some tales which have touched the nation's heart.
BRAKE FOR LIFE
Zhou Zeliang has become a household name in central Hunan Province, which has suffered the most from the snowstorm.
The 38-year-old bus driver died of an apparent heart attack at work on Jan. 21. But in the last minute of his life, Zhou mustered all his strength to brake the bus, which was carrying at least 50 passengers.
"It was 6 p.m., the road was slippery with ice and snow and traffic was slow. If not braked in time, the bus could have crashed into the crowd of pedestrians or the vehicle fleet," said Qiu Liming, a volunteer who was helping traffic police to keep order at rush hour.
One passenger said she saw Zhou was pale as a sheet and collapsed against the steering wheel. "We panicked at the imminent crash. But the bus was miraculously pulled over near a crossing."
Zhou never woke up again.
His wife Huang Tongying said he had always been healthy and shown no sign of a heart disease.
The couple have two children, one at primary school and the other at junior high.
A manager of the bus company said Zhou shouldn't have been working that day but had taken someone else's shift. "He was warm-hearted and already ready to help others," said Yang Deguang, assistant manager of Hongguang Bus Co. Ltd based in Changsha.
HEROES WHO LET THERE BE LIGHT
In Hunan Province, five workers have lost their lives while trying to restore the power supply.
Cao Xianglin, 42, died of a heart failure on Tuesday after 16 consecutive days of emergency repair work in the cold. His colleagues said he had been stressed after working for more than 10 hours a day.
"He was not feeling well on Tuesday, so I offered to replace him. But he insisted he'd be able to fix it faster," said Luo Changchun, a young worker at the power company in Chenzhou City.
Cao climbed up the 20-meter electricity pylon, fixed the cable, but was not able to come down again.
The Hunan Provincial Power Company has sent 10,000 workers to emergency repairs after the local power grid was battered by snowstorm.
By Wednesday, four workers had died from equipment collapse. The oldest was 37 and the youngest, 32.
CYCLING HOME
Unable to get a train ticket, a 20-year-old university student spent seven and a half days cycling from Beijing to his home in the central Henan Province, nearly 800 kilometers away.
Gao Fusong, who had no training in field survival skills, said an anxiety to go home for the Chinese New Year spurred him to take the risk. "I bought a new bike, googled the route, brought some water and chocolate, and hit the road on Jan. 22," he said.
He hiked during the day and spent the night at small inns. "It was indeed a tough journey but I'm happy I made it. After all, people of my generation enjoy too much comfort. It's worth testing our limits sometimes."
Gao didn't tell his parents what he was doing until two days before he was to arrive home.
"I'd certainly have stopped him had I known in advance," said his father. "But I'm proud of him."
WEDDING ON THE TRAIN
A young couple who was to get married on Jan. 27 decided to celebrate their wedding on the train with complete strangers when a trip to the bridegroom's home in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality was disrupted by heavy snow.
Wu Haifeng from Chongqing and his bride Lu Yixiang from the southern boom city of Shenzhen had been stranded for 10 hours on the way before they finally boarded a train to Wu's home county of Liangping.
"It was around 3 pm and the best hour for the wedding was about to end," said Wu. The Chinese believe midday and early afternoon are the auspicious times for weddings, while only second marriages are celebrated in the evening.
The couple then decided to hold a brief ceremony on the train instead. Wu proudly announced their getting married and the couple passed around packs of cigarettes in the carriage.
"To our relief, everybody cheered and offered handshakes and broad smiles," said Wu.
When they finally arrived home that night, the family sat together to watch a video of the wedding, shot by a friend who was accompanying them throughout the trip.
Source: Xinhua
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